see it through

One should not have an orchard and
Not care for it; so she tries,
Even lurches from the depths of a chair

She's found at some thrift, pre-softened; from
Her house, warm or cool as she might wish,
Out into too much sun or too much rain; from
Under the kind roof of a porch she'd built,
Leaving tool after tool there to gather
Dust and webs, marks of a new will to

Neglect. Beyond the weed-bent fence, an
Orchard of sorts awaits her care, each
Task having skipped two years at least.

Hands grasp lopper and saw. She visits
Apple, quince, pear, plum, cherry, clipping
Vines, tall weeds, watersprouts, suckers;
Even designates branches for her stove.

As the forenoon warms, she strips off
Now her hat, next jacket, shirt and gloves,

Old skin offered to thorns, thistles,
Rough bark. Really she'd meant to hire it done,
Children of neighbors being short on cash.
Habit, she could call it. Habit, and the way
Apples come best that see right sun,
Ripe enough to pay her for some pains.
Do a thing yourself to see it through.

-- shonin #poetry #acrostic #gardening #orcharding

#UnityME - #MOFGA #SeedSwap & #ScionExchange 2026

March 29, 2026 @ 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm

MOFGA’s Education Center
294 Crosby Brook Rd
Unity, ME 04988 United States

Let us know you're coming!

* In the event of severe weather, the Seed Swap & Scion Exchange will be postponed to the following Sunday, April 5 from 12-4 pm.

"Gardeners and orchardists are invited to bring their #seeds, #scionwood and #cuttings to share. If you don’t have any, come anyway! There is always plenty of seeds and scion to go around.

If you’ve been to the event before, you know that space can get tight at the start of the event. We encourage folks to join the event later in the day — we promise, there are still plenty of seeds and scions available over the duration of the event!

Community members and local seed #growers regularly bring an incredible variety of #vegetable, #fruit, #flower, and #herb seeds. We also regularly have over 150+ types of scionwood to share, including scionwood sourced from MOFGA’s orchards. We will also have limited quantities of #rootstock for sale. Custom #grafting is available by donation to the #MaineHeritageOrchard.

Other items for sharing are welcome such as plants, cuttings, #seedlings, hatching eggs, #kombucha and #YogurtStarters, #salves and other homemade items.

The day’s offerings also include #gardening and #orcharding workshops and demonstrations. Our full list of educational offerings for the day is coming soon!"

FMI:
https://www.mofga.org/event-calendar/seed-swap-scion-exchange-2026/

#SolarPunkSunday #SeedExchange #MaineEvents #GrowYourOwn #GrowYourOwnFood #GardeningForPollinators #GardeningWorkshops

Just got told that my #apples have saved a professor from a trip to the snack machine twice!

#gardening (Gardening? #orchard? #Orcharding)

#homesteading